Measuring the recycling potential of industrial waste for long-term sustainability
Abstract Industrial waste is the byproduct of many industrial processes. Estimating the recycling potential of industrial waste can help solve the anthropogenic circularity conundrum. Here we employed the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) to verify GDP as a route to "amplified resource efficien...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer Nature
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01942-1 |
| _version_ | 1797577424965206016 |
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| author | Qudsia Kanwal Xianlai Zeng Jinhui Li |
| author_facet | Qudsia Kanwal Xianlai Zeng Jinhui Li |
| author_sort | Qudsia Kanwal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Industrial waste is the byproduct of many industrial processes. Estimating the recycling potential of industrial waste can help solve the anthropogenic circularity conundrum. Here we employed the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) to verify GDP as a route to "amplified resource efficiency". The results provide substantial evidence for an inverted U and N relationship between the hypothesized GDPPC and industrial waste generation. During 2011–2025, the recycling potential in China showed a downward trend. China is projected to experience a dramatic increase in the production of industrial hazardous waste until the successful implementation of industrial hazardous waste prevention measures reverses the current trends. The turning point of the EKC between industrial waste generation and economic development is around US$8000, while the comprehensive utilization is 102.22 million tons. The EKC inflection points established by the study are correlated with the waste category’s turning point. The revised EKC claims that technological change may accelerate the turning points; thus, the graph shifts downward and right. The study recommends investing in new technology development to help the industry produce virgin and recycled industrial waste for a circular economy. Recycling potential evaluation also assists us to achieve our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:09:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-25bd165cfdc24ed38197cb170c637b0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-9992 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:09:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-25bd165cfdc24ed38197cb170c637b0c2023-11-19T12:42:07ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922023-08-0110111310.1057/s41599-023-01942-1Measuring the recycling potential of industrial waste for long-term sustainabilityQudsia Kanwal0Xianlai Zeng1Jinhui Li2State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityState Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityState Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract Industrial waste is the byproduct of many industrial processes. Estimating the recycling potential of industrial waste can help solve the anthropogenic circularity conundrum. Here we employed the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) to verify GDP as a route to "amplified resource efficiency". The results provide substantial evidence for an inverted U and N relationship between the hypothesized GDPPC and industrial waste generation. During 2011–2025, the recycling potential in China showed a downward trend. China is projected to experience a dramatic increase in the production of industrial hazardous waste until the successful implementation of industrial hazardous waste prevention measures reverses the current trends. The turning point of the EKC between industrial waste generation and economic development is around US$8000, while the comprehensive utilization is 102.22 million tons. The EKC inflection points established by the study are correlated with the waste category’s turning point. The revised EKC claims that technological change may accelerate the turning points; thus, the graph shifts downward and right. The study recommends investing in new technology development to help the industry produce virgin and recycled industrial waste for a circular economy. Recycling potential evaluation also assists us to achieve our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01942-1 |
| spellingShingle | Qudsia Kanwal Xianlai Zeng Jinhui Li Measuring the recycling potential of industrial waste for long-term sustainability Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| title | Measuring the recycling potential of industrial waste for long-term sustainability |
| title_full | Measuring the recycling potential of industrial waste for long-term sustainability |
| title_fullStr | Measuring the recycling potential of industrial waste for long-term sustainability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measuring the recycling potential of industrial waste for long-term sustainability |
| title_short | Measuring the recycling potential of industrial waste for long-term sustainability |
| title_sort | measuring the recycling potential of industrial waste for long term sustainability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01942-1 |
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